As you are no doubt aware, David’s new DVD, ‘Remember That Night: David Gilmour Live at The Royal Albert Hall’, will be premiered in Europe and North America next month.

This means 85 glorious minutes from the concert in the technological sweet shop that is a modern cinema environment.

As if that wasn’t enough, it will be broadcast to all participating cinemas, in High Definition, live via satellite from London.

And is if that’s not enough to whet your appetite, David is also going to be performing one live song (on electric guitar) and taking part in a live Q&A… which you can be involved in.

From today, I want your questions for David.

I’ve already had an absolute bagful of questions from fans for the North American Q&A – thanks very much – and the ‘best’ have now been chosen, so please don’t bother sneaking in another one here.

I only want questions for the UK & Europe premiere now.

So, if you’re in Europe, or if you will be going to see ‘Remember That Night’ at one of the cinemas in Europe, do send in a question.

All I ask is that it has nothing to do with Pink Floyd reunions, tribute bands or your demos, and that you keep it short and sweet.

As before, you may only submit one question each. In the interest of fairness, should you send in a list of questions, all will be considered ineligible. Indeed, the only entries that will be considered eligible will be presented exactly as follows.

Please copy and paste the following into the comment form below. You don’t need to give your full name or address. This information will be published for all to see, so please only add what you feel comfortable with sharing, but I do need a real name and region.

Real name:
Town/city, county and country:

I will/will not (please specify) be attending a participating European cinema. (Tell us which one, if you want to.)

Question:

You have until Friday 24 August at 5PM (UK) to submit your question. No questions will be considered after this time, so please don’t leave it until the last minute and miss out on this opportunity.

This next bit is obvious, but very important: Please do not send a question unless you are happy to record yourself asking it. Remember that your videos will be played at cinemas right across Europe. Everybody present at this cinema event will see, and hear, you – including David. He will then answer your question.

BBC Radio 2 will also be broadcasting some of the questions on the night, so everyone will be able to ‘tune in’ online.

If you are not prepared to do this, which is perfectly understandable, please do not submit a question.

Tickets are still available for this exciting event, which takes place on Thursday 6 September in Europe. For full details, see previous entries concerning Austria, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK.

There are some tickets left for the UK & Europe premiere at London’s Leicester Square, which is where David will be, but I don’t expect them to be there for long.

If you’ll be going to Leicester Square and want to meet fellow fans before the event, please see details of the meet-up that is arranged from 5PM at the Imperial pub on Leicester Street. Everyone is welcome, so do add your name to the list.

And please do keep clicking the button below to vote this the Best Music Blog. I am open to bribery. (I’m not really.)

Author: FEd

Features Editor of David Gilmour's official blog, The Blog ('Features' previously being its rather naff title), affectionately - or lazily - shortened to 'FEd'.
View all posts by FEd

You worked with Crosby and Nash on both the CD and at selected concert dates in the U.S.A. and the U.K. including the 3 Royal Albert Hall filmed shows, how did this all come about and how did the duo enjoy this project?

Town/city, county and country: zip code 33058
San Giorgio di Nogaro (UDINE) Italy – North East

I will not be attending a participating European cinema.

Question:

Dear Mr.Gilmour, with reference to your incomparabile career and with “On an island”, did you achieve your aim of your own words: ‘I wish my music weren’t merely a background, but the only important thing, at least at the time when it’s listened.’ ?

Ina Wagner, Berlin, Germany
I will be attending a participating European cinema: Cinemagnum Dresden

Question:

Mr. Gilmour, your concerts in Venice on the August 4th and 5th 2006 were both rescheduled. Many fans from all over the world went there in order to hear you in the Piazza San Marco. We drove down from Berlin to see you and of course were terribly disappointed. We went the following week but there were some fans who couldn´t extend their holidays or travel to Venice for this weekend. How did you feel when you first heard about the cancelation?

I will be attending a participating European cinema (Pathé Tuschinski Amsterdam).

Question: I’d like to ask David what he remembers about being in Rome (which is my hometown.. but I was way too young to be a fan…) in 1970 while recording for Michelangelo Antonioni “Zabriskie Point”. What did you perceive of Rome’s vibe back then and what did you think about Pink Floyd music being accepted in southern Europe as opposed to UK, where it was already popular?

My mate & I were due to see you in Sept 2004 at 50th Anniversary of Stratocaster. Well, after a rollercoaster lifestyle of drink & drugs, I suffered complete Renal failure and fell into a coma for 6 weeks, and Doctors gave me 1% chance of survival.

My mate played your song ‘Coming back to Life’ through headphones to me EVERY DAY. Our tickets were then donated for other fans to use. Your management noted this & told you, and you sent me a GET WELL CARD.

I’m now fully recovered and off the drink & drugs and this is to say THANK YOU FOR YOUR INSPIRATION. It saved my life then, and it continues to fuel me now…

[Thanks for that, Robert. We like a happy ending and I like to think that your post could inspire a few others. All the best to you, mate. Good to hear that you’re fighting fit. – Features Editor]

I will not be attending a participating European cinema. Sadly no cinema shows planned for Slovenia:-(((

Question:

If there was a Noah’s Arc of Music, containing only THE most significant and defining song of each band or solo musician on the world, which Pink Floyd and which David Gilmour song should find its place on board and why?

David, like me, you grew up in Cambridge by Grantchester Meadows, inspiration for Roger’s song and the area is mentioned in ‘High Hopes’ and in the video on ‘Pulse’. Do you ever go back to Cambridge to visit or can you remember the last time you were at the meadows?

Question: I believe your guitar playing has become even more inventive and beautiful over the years, and that “On an Island” features some of your finest work. Do you feel that as you have got older and more mature your guitar playing – and your song-writing – has improved, and do you feel more confident about your talents now?

I will be attending a participating European cinema with my wife, at The Odeon, Leicester Square.

Question:

David, it is mainly thanks to you I took up guitar just over a year ago, purely for my own recreation, i would like to know what advice you would give to me so i can get the most from my playing/practicing and advice to my wife, so she does n’t suffer too much while i “twang” ? as she calls it.

We were at the Royal Albert Hall on the 29th May last year & it was my wife’s first ever concert.

It was almost a question for Polly as well but since she would never suffer while you play she would not know the answer.

David, we were used to seeing you with Pink Floyd playing large stadium gigs with massive audiences. On the On An Island Tour you chose to play small intimate venues. Did you find the adjustment to this easy and which did you find more nerve wracking?

I thought i would let you know i have just got 2 tickets for leicester sq. im really looking forward to this night as it will be one to remember. sorry had to get that in. we are in canada and will be back in the uk end of august

Regards Damian

[I hope you have a fantastic time, Damian. It promises to be a great night. – Features Editor]

Hi David, I was at your concerts in Venice and was quite astonished to hear you plunging into On The Turning Away on the first evening. However, I have a hunch that I might not have been the only one to have been taken by surprise – your band too seemed a little dumbfounded, even caught off guard and unprepared. Would you let me know what made you play this specific song?

Question: I attended your concert in Clam Castle last year. How do you manage to have such a rich sound in live performances, better than on the studio recordings, especially the old floyd ones (where we have a chance to compare)?

Hi all… back from vacation. Had a great trip to the Sequoia National Park.

I know I’m off topic here fed, but I don’t see a place on the blog to address this.

I had a chance to watch and LISTEN to the video of Fat Old Sun this weekend. I was completely blown away. I remember it was great when I saw it at the Gibson, but this performance was absolutely stellar! I love how the song starts to fade before the guitar solo comes blistering back up! Amazing!

Can’t wait for the cinema presentation and then getting the DVD in my hands!

what did you do for my ques? why?what was wrong? what do you changing my ques?!

[I didn’t change your question. I cut the reasons why you think David should perform in Israel. We want one question, and you asked your question. You then asked why David has never performed in Israel, which is not likely to be one of the questions put to David at Leicester Square (in any sense, you can only ask one question), and this is included – minus your reasons. – Features Editor]

Question: Your career in music stretches over 40 brilliant years and in that time you will be remembered for a fantastic contribution to music with both the Floyd and your solo career and that is not to mention your contributions to other artists and various charities. With the increasing amount of guitar based music, do you find that it takes longer to devise an original sound/idea for a song or do you believe that the guitar has a limitless potential and bands and artists, including yourself, will be able to create original music for many years to come?

Do we only need to record ourselves if our question gets chosen and who has the final say?

[Yes, you only need to record yourselves if your question is chosen. David’s manager has the final say. I’ll be picking what I consider to be the ‘best’ 15 questions, which will then be reduced to ten. Ten people will be contacted and asked to make the necessary recordings. Audio, video and photo will then need to be uploaded to a secret link. I have to keep pointing out that there is no guarantee that all ten will be used on the night, so please keep that in mind. – Features Editor]

I just wanted to let everyone know that the Barnfest07 was great and we all had a wonderful time. I just hope that next year when we have Barnfest08 that more of you will come for we really missed you all.

Plus Gabrielle was the perfect Hostess and her place is beautiful. The wildlife out there is great. Melissa was awoken by wild turkeys fighting behind her cabin.

[Why did the band decide to put the Kop singing ‘You’ll never walk alone’ on Fearless from the Meddle album? (Gives me goosebumps when I hear it!)]

My boss has the Kop singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone” as his mobile phone ringtone. As a Newcastle Utd supporter, the only way I can cope with this when he receives a call is to try convincing myself that I’m listening to Fearless.

I’ve tried explaining to my boss about the Kop singing on Pink Floyd’s Fearless, but he just thinks I’ve lost the plot!!

I will be attending a participating European cinema at The Odeon. Leicester Square, seat 8, row Z!

Question:

David, you’ve come a long way, babe – you’ve even got a CBE – but have you, personally, achieved all you set your heart on musically or do you still have dreams/aspirations and can let us have an insight as to what these are and how you hope to fulfill them.

[Don’t get me started on Rob Styles, for God’s sake. – Features Editor]

But FEd, he was only evening up having given you a very debatable free kick the week before which allowed you to beat Villa? Shame he wasn’t forced to apologise for that.

*sits back and awaits for it to kick off*

🙂

[Tony, Tony, Tony… That was a soft free kick, I admit, but Liverpool deserved to win that game. It would have been a travesty had they not taken all three points against Villa. They sure as hell deserved to beat Chelsea on Sunday. Those two (stolen!) points will haunt us at the end of the season, I’m sure. (Are you loving this?) A simply outrageous decision… – Features Editor]

I am sorry I missed the N.American Question blog last week. Fate or Karma or whatever took out the hard drive in my computer last Monday, and I got it back late Friday. (Actually, the 4 foot fall onto it’s top did the trick, I think)

Anyways, I don’t know if it’s because of your editing or just the flow of questions in general, but I am glad to see that most of the questions were good ones. I was really expecting to see 300 questions about ‘When will you play in _______?’ and ‘When is Pink Floyd going to tour again?’. I am glad to see that those kinds of questions appear to be minimal.

I will be attending a participating European cinema (Leicester Square)

Question: David, you’ve had the privilege of working with many of the world’s best musicians, one only needs to look at your recent band to see the wealth of talent in the band for the On An Island tour to realise this, is there anyone with whom you would like to perform with, but have not had the chance to do so yet?

My question is: We were all really touched by the rendition of Dark Globe that you played in tribute to your friend Syd. What was it that made you choose this song of all of his songs to honour him with?

[I didn’t change your question. I cut out the reasons why you think David should perform in Israel.]

and why not? if it will help him show in my country? let him know that he has a lot of fans here.

you really disappointed me.

[David knows that there are a lot of fans in a lot of countries. Taking up space to list reasons why he should visit any one of these countries disappoints me, as this is a busy entry for people to submit realistic questions for an event which is just around the corner. – Features Editor]

[My boss has the Kop singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone” as his mobile phone ringtone. As a Newcastle Utd supporter, the only way I can cope with this when he receives a call is to try convincing myself that I’m listening to Fearless. I’ve tried explaining to my boss about the Kop singing on Pink Floyd’s Fearless, but he just thinks I’ve lost the plot!!]

Hee Hee! My Boyfriend is a bitter evertonian but unfortunately, he’s not even a Pink Floyd fan so you can only imagine the scramble towards the cd player when Meddle comes on!

Question: Hi there, Phil M. mentioned in a nice and entertaining Q&A that there was more than enough material that did not make it to On an Island. Will there be another solo album, or will some off the ‘left overs’ (how rude of me to call them that!) surface at some point on a Roger Waters like ‘best of album’ with quite a lot of obscure songs.

I know all Pink Floyd discography, all your solo works, and i’m a guitarist, and i’m sure of a thing about your way of working: the most important artists who have influenced your guitar and your voice, are Jimi Hendrix and Elvis Presley. Your way of making an album is so similar to Jimi Hendrix albums (with an instrumental song at first that goes to the second track, like A momentary… – The Division Bell – On an Island, without talking about all your guitar tricks that are so similar to his style…it’s like earing the Jimi Hendrix of the new century) and when you sing the word “marooned” on the song “The blue”, it’s like earing Elvis on his “uoh uoh uoh uoh” in “Don’t”. Now this is my question: when you were with Pink Floyd, what did you know about music language? You really know what you are playing on your guitar? Do you know the minor, major scale, all the modulations, all the sorts of things a musician must know? Or it is all instinct? We all know that you are not a tecnic guitarist, but i would know how the music language influenced you, on “on an island” too…

Thanks..

[Your question brings a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘short and sweet’. – Features Editor]

It seems that there’s a lot of guys writing comments, questions etc., and not a lot of gals, so I wanted to just wanted to “babe” David, and tell him there are real women who love his guitar just as much as him! Definitely a Sex Bomb!

Even my African Grey Parrot, of 22 years is called Gilly Floyd Syd Parrot!

Now that was something worth mentioning!

Has anyone got pets and they’re called after PF people, tracks etc.

FAT OLD SUN (Well, that’s gotta be me…..) LOL!

Happy days!
Love
Cori Burns xxxxx

PS: to Fed. Re Chat room. No, my computer won’t let me in as it has a firewall, and it doesn’t seem to accept my name, password or whatever. Shame. Buying a new computer (a Mac) in a couple of weeks. xxx

My name is Bob Mitchell, and I’m from Victoria, Brish Columbia, Canada.

It is a pleasure to be attending your Leicester Square premier show in London on the 6th of Sept.

My question.

David, I have heard you say in an interview that you wish that you had had the pleasure of hearing Dark Side of the Moon for the very first time, like the rest of us have. Your music, and the music of Pink Floyd, is very affecting on multiple levels for the listener. Is there any music or artist that has evoked this response in you, to the degree that your music, and the music of Pink Floyd has evoked in millions of fans like myself?

I will not be attending a participating European cinema. Have tickets for the BBC Proms

Question:

David,

You are credited with the production credits on Kate Bush’s first album and are widely deemed to be responsible for getting her started in the music business. As a lifelong admirer of her musical talent (and, of course, yours!) I can see a wonderful opportunity for creative synergy in both your current musical leanings.

Are there any plans at all for the two of you to work together and do you (and Polly) still see her socially at all?

I will be attending a participating European cinema. City Screen Picturehouse in YORK.

Question:

Good evening David,

DavidGilmour.com has once again been deservedly nominated in two categories at the BT Digital Music Awards, for Best Music Blog and Best Official Music site. Your website has continued to evolve since its inception in December 2005.

My question for you tonight is:- What were your original aims and expectations for your website, have they now been exceeded and if so, in what way?

I will be attending a participating European cinema. (I will be at the Odeon Cinema in Leicester Square for the live premiere event on Thursday, September 6th).

Question:

On An Island was largely inspired by the island of Kastelorizo but did any local music or any musical influences typically foreign to the rock genre percolate into the arrangements, song-writing, or any other elements of the final production that became On An Island?

I will be attending a participating European cinema. (I will be at the Odeon Cinema in Leicester Square on Thursday, September 6th for the live premiere).

Question:

Echoes was included in the set of your last solo tour – but only after rehearsals gave you a comfortable vibe… were any similar attempts made to include material from your previous solo albums and if so which track came closest to being added to the setlist on this last tour and, in the end, why did you choose to exclude it?

His fingers delicate flicker over the fret
Distorted sustained rawness links
To strings vibrating in the heart
Emotional narrative echoes off the walls
Notes bending metal made to cry
And sing to the world, the hurt
the pain, revealed for all to sense
The demons flee his soul with searching sting
Only to dissipate complex, a sliding recline,
sentient intricate released and free

Comment:

Pink Floyd have inspired me since I was a youth; I am so glad I was around to follow their work.

I bow to all of them in recognition of their musical skills and wonderful narratives. David Gilmour made me take up the guitar and I gained many hours enjoyment as a consequence.

I will be attending a participating European cinema: Leicester Square Empire, London

Question:Dear Mr.Gilmour,

Considering that:

You are well known all over the world and with the deep emotions you are able to evoke, you can speak and come in touch with all different ages.

Last year in Poland you, together with other people and also with the ex-president of Poland, Lech Walesa, demonstrated at the recurrence of the 26th anniversary of the foundation of Solidarnosc syndicate.

From some international interviews recently issued, comes out that you are a happy and balanced man, gratified from life and that you don’t believe in God.

Therefore, according to what I stated here above, I ask you:

Don’t you think that in your position you have a moral responsibility in front of a world totally on crisis in which there is a deep and general identity lack?

Don’t you think you can become a universal ambassador to support the civil fight against the deep evils that surround our planet?

I lost my best friend to cancer on 10 May of this year. The last 6 months of her life she listened exclusively to David Gilmour solo works and with the Pink Floyd. In her house, or in my car, it played nonstop. She said she loved it and why waste precious time with what wasn’t precious.

I just wanted to thank the Great man. Since her death I have listed to her top 25 many, many times and it has been such a comfort.

We both love the words to Poles Apart, the music is beautiful, but I find 1 line particularly relevant now,

“I thought of you – and the years and all the sadness fell away from me”

Thank you so very much, indeed. And, thank you FedEd for being our conduit to David and the band.

jo (Calif, much of the time, now.)

[I’m so sorry to hear of your loss, Jo. I’m glad that the music helps a little. – Features Editor]

if I tell to you that I’m fan of you and pink floyd, I’ll be like millions other fans that you have around the world, what I think funny is: here in Brazil many young peoples ages 16, 17, and they know about you and pink floyd as they were born in 50’s 60’s years, this for me is very good, because I feel like a man who has a very good taste for music

I saw you at Live Aid (the best show of my life) and I would like to see you here in brazil

I will be attending a participating European cinema. CineCitta Nürnberg

Question: This type of digital concert is new and exciting, to be able to watch you live is quite amazing to us fans worldwide. My question, are you likely to be doing more “concerts” of this kind in the future?

Question: When looking back at your years after the split with Roger are you critical of yourself in the way you went about those issues or do you think the actions you took and the way you went about them were correct?

I recall reading that you have to be careful when a ‘new’ riff falls out of your guitar in case it comes from something that you have heard somewhere before. Do you feel that there is a finite number of ways to produce a good riff and that we are rapidly reaching saturation point?

Question: David, when you next tour, is there a chance that you will include a song from the “Obscured by Clouds” Album? Seeing you play “Fat Old Sun”, from “Atom Heart Mother”, made me think that there were other songs from the early ’70s that you wrote in that style.

I do have a question I would like to post but how am I ever gonna hear his answer unless I go to the show? Are you planning to put some of the questions and David Gilmour’s answers on this page, after the event?

I will be attending a participating European cinema. In Amsterdam, Tuschinski Theater.

Question:

David, when I listen to your music on the On an Island album I hear pain as well as victory, the words are clear but do the stories of your guitar tell tales of earthly destruction, the path we have to take to make the world right again and the victory of awareness that more and more people are getting that we have to act on it ?

after the mesmerizing sights and sounds of your OAI gigs in Frankfurt and in the London RAH last year we returned home with the feeling as if we would have spent a holiday weekend on a Mediterranean Island. So as your music is so spellbinding that one’s mind is taking off for a flight of fancy I´d really like to know, where in the world are you getting your inspiration from, and which music is helping you to boost your imagination and mood? TY

I will be attending a participating European cinema. Odeon (between fenchurch st. station and coventry street :p )

Question:Your note bending is one of your distinctive trademark sounds, what inspired you to experiment with this method of playing? The first time i heard that first solo of comfy numb it nearly blew my head clean off!!

I will be attending a participating European cinema. In the mighty York Picture House.

Question: David, I understand that you have a recording studio on a boat. If the boat was unfortunate enough to crash and you were unable to escape, what piece of music would you play as your last stand? Would it be Take a Breath?

Being that there are so many fantastic questions that people have asked on this UK/European Q&A (Brian Kildare’s “Echoes” question, Daniel Henry’s “Waters’ DSOTM Tour” question, and the various inquiries about the incomparable Gilmour/Wright musical interplay seem to stand out the most to me), will the questions that David answers eventually be posted on this website after the event?

[Yes, we will have transcripts from both premieres, if nothing else. – Features Editor]

David Gilmour, suppose you’re invited for dinner at the house of a good friend who happens to be a good cook, famous for his desserts. The feast starts. The first course is very tasty, the next is even better and after the third, you feel quite full already. Now here comes the question:

WHAT WILL YOU DO? I have three options:

1. You are disciplined enough to eat less of each following course and, by this means, treat yourself to at least some bites of the dessert without getting sick.
2. You display even more discipline and ignore the dessert, the best part!
3. You end up feeling stuffed and sick after the dessert because every course was
so good you just had to finish everything off.

I know this seems to be a long question but it actually only consists of 4 words ;o)

I thought this might be a more entertaining way to tackle the question “Are you a disciplined man when it comes to pleasure and indulgence?”, which is the core of my question…